Case Studies • BBC Ideas: What Does it Take to Beat the Odds?
BBC IDEAS:
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BEAT THE ODDS
Client: BBC Ideas & The University of Oxford
Teaming up with one of the world's most renowned educational institutions, the University of Oxford, was an exciting endeavour. Our mission was clear: to translate their extensive research into a short, engaging film that would not only educate but also inspire. And what better platform to achieve this than BBC Ideas, a space dedicated to thought-provoking content.
We were fortunate to have the talented poet and broadcaster, Lemn Sissay, on board. With his charisma, eloquence and lived experience, he was the perfect presenter for this project. Adopting a mixed media approach, we weaved footage of Lemn with animation and archive to connect the big picture research to his personal story - making for an impactful, emotional watch.
Services:
Research & Development
Scripting
Production
Design
Animation
Post-production
A documentary short bringing a research paper to life through film, animation and archive.
I wanted to say thank you for your wondrous work! You did a really great job of filming, editing and producing Lemn on the day. It’s not easy to combine the personal and the wider picture research, but I think we cracked it with this one.
Cordelia Hebblethwaite, Commissioning Editor, BBC Ideas
We got stuck into the script, collaborating with the BBC Ideas team to dig into the research paper and break it down into three key themes. We researched the topic, making sure we were well informed so we could craft the story to high editorial standards.
Shoot-day kicked off in our Manchester city-centre studio, which served as the canvas for Lemn to tell his story, expertly connecting research data to his own experiences. We carefully lit the backdrop to create texture and warmth - avoiding anything too clinical-feeling. Allowing time for Lemn to warm up was critical so that he could bring his passion for the topic to the table, and to the screen.
We then ventured off around the city, filming at locations that were pertinent to the narrative. A children’s playground, for example, and Chetham’s wonderful library, which linked to Lemn’s life and poetry.
Post-production is where all the different parts of the film were put together, piece by piece. Our edit team delved into the archives to search for 16mm footage which captured the essence of Lemn’s poems. They worked up the imagery for the animation, using collage, texture and graphics to bring these moments to life. They hand-picked Lemn’s best takes, ensuring each line was said with as much passion as possible. Finally, they pulled all the different parts together into a cohesive whole, adding a grade to give it that final polish.
